pituitrin and pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2--4--disulfonic-acid

Exogenous ATP induces inward currents and causes the release of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) from isolated neurohypophysial terminals (NHT); both effects are inhibited by the P2X2 and P2X3 antagonists, suramin and PPADS. Here we examined the role of endogenous ATP in the neurohypophysis. Stimulation of NHT caused the release of both AVP and ATP. ATP induced a potentiation in the stimulated release of AVP, but not of oxytocin (OT), which was blocked by the presence of suramin. In loose-patch clamp recordings, from intact neurohypophyses, suramin or PPADS produces an inhibition of action potential currents in a static bath, that can be mimicked by a hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential (RMP). Correspondingly, in a static versus perfused bath there is a depolarization of the RMP of NHT, which was reduced by either suramin or PPADS. We measured an accumulation of ATP (3.7 +/- 0.7 microM) released from NHT in a static bath. Applications of either suramin or PPADS to a static bath decreased burst-stimulated capacitance increases in NHT. Finally, only vasopressin release from electrically stimulated intact neurohypophyses was reduced in the presence of Suramin or PPADS. These data suggest that there was sufficient accumulation of ATP released from the neurohypophysis during stimulations to depolarize its nerve terminals. This would occur via the opening of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors, inducing an influx of Ca2+. The subsequent elevation in [Ca2+](i) would further increase the stimulated release of only vasopressin from NHT terminals. Such purinergic feedback mechanisms could be physiologically important at most CNS synapses.

Topics: Action Potentials; Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Arginine Vasopressin; Male; Nerve Endings; Oxytocin; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Pituitary Gland, Posterior; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Pyridoxal Phosphate; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Purinergic P2; Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; Suramin; Vasopressins

The A1 catecholamine neurons of the caudal ventrolateral medulla transmit hemodynamic information to the vasopressin (VP) neurons in the hypothalamus. These neurons corelease ATP with norepinephrine. Perifused explants of the hypothalamoneurohypophyseal system were used to investigate the role of these substances on VP release. ATP (100 micrometer) increased VP release 1.5-fold (p = 0.027). The response was rapid but unsustained. It was blocked by the P(2) receptor antagonist pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS). The alpha(1)-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (PE; 100 micrometer) also increased VP release by 1.5-fold (p = 0.014). Again, the response was rapid and unsustained. However, simultaneous perifusion of explants with ATP (100 micrometer) and PE (100 micrometer) resulted in a threefold to fourfold increase in VP release, which was sustained for as long as 4 hr. There was a similar synergistic effect of ATP and PE on oxytocin release. Interestingly, the synergistic response was delayed approximately 40 min relative to the response to either agent alone. Several experiments were performed to elucidate the cellular mechanisms of this synergism. The effect was blocked by PPADS, a protein kinase C inhibitor (bisindolylmaleimide I HCl), and actinomycin, an inhibitor of gene transcription. These data suggest that P(2X) receptor activation, PKC-mediated phosphorylation, and gene transcription are required for the synergistic response. The marked synergism of these coreleased agents is probably important to achieve sustained increases in plasma VP in response to prolonged hypotension. These observations may also have broad applications to CNS function, because ATP may be coreleased at noradrenergic synapses throughout the CNS.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenergic Agonists; Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists; Animals; Culture Techniques; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Indoles; Male; Maleimides; Norepinephrine; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; Oxytocin; Phenylephrine; Protein Kinase C; Purinergic Agonists; Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists; Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; Pyridoxal Phosphate; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Vasopressins

In order to analyse the effects of arginine-vasopressin on the vascular contraction to sympathetic nerve stimulation during cooling, the isometric response of isolated, 2-mm segments of the rabbit central ear (cutaneous) artery to electrical field stimulation (1-8 Hz) was recorded at 37 and 30 degrees C. Electrical stimulation (37 degrees C) produced frequency-dependent arterial contraction, which was reduced at 30 degrees C and potentiated by vasopressin (10 pM, 100 pM and 1 nM). This potentiation was greater at 30 than at 37 degrees C and was abolished at both temperatures by the antagonist of vasopressin V1 receptors d(CH2)5 Tyr(Me)AVP (100 nM). Desmopressin (1 microM) did not affect the response to electrical stimulation. At 37 degrees C, the vasopressin-induced potentiation was abolished by the purinoceptor antagonist PPADS (30 microM), increased by phentolamine (1 microM) or prazosin (1 microM) and not modified by yohimbine (1 microM), whilst at 30 degrees C, the potentiation was reduced by phentolamine, yohimbine or PPADS, and was not modified by prazosin. The Ca2+-channel blockers, verapamil (10 microM) and NiCl2 (1 mM), abolished the potentiating effects of vasopressin at 37 degrees C whilst verapamil reduced and NiCl2 abolished this potentiation at 30 degrees C. The inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, L-NOARG (100 microM), or endothelium removal did not modify the potentiation by vasopressin at 37 and 30 degrees C. Vasopressin also increased the arterial contraction to the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist BHT-920 (10 microM) and to ATP (2 mM) at 30 and 37 degrees C, but it did not modify the contraction to noradrenaline (1 microM) at either temperature. These results suggest that in cutaneous (ear) arteries, vasopressin potentiaties sympathetic vasoconstriction to a greater extent at 30 than at 37 degrees C by activating vasopressin V1 receptors and Ca2+ channels at both temperatures. At 37 degrees C, the potentiation appears related to activation of the purinoceptor component and, at 30 degrees C, to activation of both purinoceptor and alpha2-adrenoceptor components of the sympathetic response.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; Animals; Arteries; Azepines; Calcium Channel Blockers; Calcium Channels; Cold Temperature; Ear; Electric Stimulation; In Vitro Techniques; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Norepinephrine; Phentolamine; Prazosin; Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; Pyridoxal Phosphate; Rabbits; Receptors, Adrenergic; Sympathetic Nervous System; Vasoconstriction; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasopressins; Verapamil; Yohimbine